Football

West Asia conflict forces cancellation of Messi vs Yamal Finalissima clash

The Finalissima had initially been scheduled for March 27 in Qatar. However, organisers were forced to reconsider the venue after tensions in West Asia

Manchester City drop the ball as Arsenal's PL title run gains momentum

Haaland's drop in form coincides with Pep Guardiola's tactical tinkering following the arrival of Antoine Semenyo in January.

Lionel Messi faces backlash after White House visit with Donald Trump

Last week, Messi attended a reception at the White House celebrating his U.S.-based team, Inter Miami, winning the 2025 MLS Cup.

Bayern Munich held to 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen as Dortmund closes in

Bayern Munich came from behind and finished the match with nine players in a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, allowing Borussia Dortmund to close to within nine points of the Bundesliga leader. Luis Diaz, who scored the equalizer following Aleix Garcia's opener, was sent off in the 84th minute for a second yellow card. Nicolas Jackson had received a red card in the 42nd minute. Leverkusen took the lead in the sixth minute after Montrell Culbreath stole the ball off Diaz and fed it to Patrik Schick, who set up Garcia on the edge of the box. The midfielder slotted home with a deflected shot. The hosts defended well to contain Bayern's attempts to come back, and frustration showed when Jackson was sent off before halftime for a late challenge on Martin Terrier. Bayern played with third-choice goalkeeper Sven Ulreich because Manuel Neuer has a calf issue and backup Jonas Urbig was concussed in the 6-1 win over Atalanta midweek in the Champions League. Ulreich denied an effort

Max Dowman becomes youngest Premier League scorer as Arsenal get late win

Max Dowman, a 16-year-old Arsenal winger, became the Premier League's youngest ever scorer with a remarkable stoppage-time goal in his team's 2-0 win over Everton. Dowman collected the ball midway in his own half, dribbled around two Everton players and raced clear unchallenged from the halfway line to tap into an empty net, with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford stranded upfield having gone forward for a corner. An English soccer prodigy, Dowman - at 16 years, 73 days - was playing just his third Premier League match after two previous substitute appearances at the start of the season. "He doesn't seem to be fazed by the occasion or the moment or the context or the opponent, he just plays so naturally," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. "He makes decisions to make things happen, and what he delivered was incredible." Asked what he said to Dowman after deciding to bring him on, Arteta replied: "Go and do your thing and win us the game." Dowman broke the record of former Everton

Three Iran women football players withdraw asylum bid, leave Australia

Another three members of the Iran's women's soccer team who accepted refugee visas to stay in Australia have decided to return to their homeland, an Australian government minister said on Sunday. The departure leaves three of an initial seven squad members in Australia. "Overnight, three members of the Iranian Women's Football Team made the decision to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran," Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement. "After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options," Burke added. Iran's team arrived in Australia for the Women's Asian Cup last month, before the war in the Middle East began on Feb. 28. Initially, six players and a support staff member from a squad list of 26 players accepted humanitarian visas to stay in Australia before the rest of the Iranian contingent flew from Sydney to Malaysia on March 9. Another later changed her mind and left ..

China through to Women's Asian Cup semis with 2-0 extra-time win vs Taiwan

Defending champions China defeated Taiwan 2-0 in the Women's Asian Cup quarterfinals on Saturday to book a semifinal against host Australia and a place at the 2027 World Cup. After 90 minutes ended goalless in a match involving c ountries with geopolitical tensions, Shao Ziqin finally broke the deadlock three minutes into extra time before a late own goal sealed a deserved win for the dominant Chinese team. On Friday, Sam Kerr scored one goal and created another as Australia advanced and secured a World Cup spot with a 2-1 win over North Korea. South Korea faced Uzbekistan later Saturday in another quarterfinal at Sydney. On Sunday, Japan heads into the final quarterfinal against the Philippines, also in Sydney, with three wins from three games and a tournament-leading 17 goals without conceding. The semifinals are set for Tuesday and Wednesday with the final to be played next Saturday in Sydney. World Cup spots ========== All four semifinalists at the Women's Asian Cup qualify

Chelsea's Pedro Neto charged by UEFA for pushing ball boy at PSG game

Chelsea winger Pedro Neto was charged by UEFA on Thursday for pushing a ballboy during the Champions League loss at Paris Saint-Germain. Neto faces a one-game ban for the charge UEFA said was "unsporting behavior," with a disciplinary decision to follow "in due course." Chelsea trails the defending champion 5-2 after the first leg on Wednesday in the round of 16. The return game is on Tuesday in London. Neto shoved the boy in the chest for appearing to hold onto the ball instead of giving it back to the player late in the game when Chelsea trailed 4-2. Neto later apologized to the boy and gave him his game jersey. "With the emotions of the game, we were losing, I wanted to pick up the ball," Neto told British broadcaster TNT Sports. "I gave him a little push. I saw that I hurt him and I am sorry, as I'm not like this.

Valverde scores first-half hat trick as Real beat City in Champions League

There was an uncertainty among Real Madrid fans before their Champions League match against Manchester City. It has a new and untested coach, recently lost two league games in a row, and last weekend required a last-minute deflection to beat Celta Vigo. Federico Valverde dispelled their doubts in a scintillating first 45 minutes, scoring a sublime hat trick that put the home team in the driver's seat for this much-awaited last 16 tie. Valverde completed a quick counterattack and rounded goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma with a deft touch to score the opener after 20 minutes. He ran on to a pass from Vinicius Junior and then fired home a low shot with his weaker left foot seven minutes later to make it 2-0. The Uruguay midfielder saved the best for last, taking Brahim Diaz's clever chip and then knocking it over the outstretched leg of Marc Guehi before volleying past Donnarumma to make it 3-0 three minutes before halftime.

Champions League: Neves, Dembele return from injury as PSG beat Chelsea 5-2

Joao Neves and Ousmane Dembele returned from injury to help Paris Saint-Germain rout Chelsea 5-2 in the last 16 of the Champions League. They combined to set up the first goal after 10 minutes and Dembele scored with a brilliant solo effort late in the first half. The third goal followed a blunder from Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jrgensen, who passed the ball straight to PSG forward Bradley Barcola. He fed substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who then passed inside to Vitinha and he neatly lobbed Jrgensen. Kvaratskhelia added two late goals allowing PSG to take a healthy lead into next Tuesday's second leg at Stamford Bridge in London. "We showed we are capable of anything. We have to carry on like this," Kvaratskhelia said. "We conceded goals but we have to analyze the mistakes we made." Ballon d'Or moment Dembele's speed and lucid thinking on his goal showed that the Ballon d'Or winner is getting back to his best in an injury-hit season. He latched onto a pass near the halfway line

Iran women's football team faces threats after anthem protest in Australia

The situation escalated after members of the Iranian squad refused to sing the national anthem before their opening match against South Korea women's national football team.

Iran football team out of Women's Asian Cup, face uncertain return home

Iran's soccer team lost its last group match at the Women's Asian Cup and had to contemplate returning home to a country embroiled in war. The Iranian women's squad arrived in Australia for the continental championship last month, before the war that began with the U.S. and Israel Feb. 28 strikes on Iran. Teams ousted during the group stage usually leave within days but organizers have not announced details for the departure of the Iran delegation. Australia's national news agency quoted Iran's head coach Marziyeh Jafari saying the squad "want to come back to Iran as soon as we can." "I want to be with my country and home ... We are eager to come back," AAP quoted Jafari as telling a post-match news conference. Their silence during the anthem before an opening loss to South Korea last Monday was viewed by some as an act of resistance and others as a show of mourning. The team hasn't clarified. But the players sang the anthem and saluted during the national anthem ahead of their 4-0

AC Milan beat rivals Inter 1-0 to cut their lead in Serie A to 7 points

AC Milan isn't ready to yield to city rival Inter Milan in the Serie A title race. Pervis Estupinan scored the winner as Milan beat Inter 1-0 again in the Derby della Madonnina on Sunday. The Rossoneri cut their city rival's lead to seven points with 10 rounds of the season remaining, setting off joyous celebrations in the San Siro while Inter's players questioned the referee for ruling out what would have been a very late equalizer. Inter had the ball in the net in stoppage time after a quickly taken corner, but it was too quick for the referee, who hadn't given the go-ahead for it to be taken and blew his whistle before the ball crossed the line. Inter had won its last eight Serie A games since a 2-2 draw with Napoli on Jan. 11, and was 15 games unbeaten in the league since the last derby, also won 1-0 by Milan, in November. Youssouf Fofana played Estupinan through on the left and the Ecuador left back let fly with a powerful shot to the back of the net for what proved to be the

Ligue 1 title race: Lens just 1 point behind PSG with 3-0 win vs Metz

Lens capped a fine week by beating Metz 3-0 to move one point behind Ligue 1 leader Paris Saint-Germain in a tense title race. PSG's 3-1 home defeat to Monaco on Friday opened the door for rival Lens, which reached the French Cup semifinals on Thursday after beating Lyon on penalties following a 2-2 draw. There are nine rounds of games left in Ligue 1 and Lens hosts PSG on April 11. Rock-bottom Metz rode its luck until Saudi Arabian defender Saud Abdulhamid put Lens ahead just before halftime with a powerful half-volley following good work from striker Abdallah Sima, who had twice gone close to scoring. Abdulhamid then combined with Adrien Thomasson to set up France winger Florian Thauvin for a neat finish from the edge of the penalty area just after the break. Midfielder Amadou Haidara made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute after playing a one-two with former Metz captain Matthieu Udol as Lens took control. Udol was born in Metz and made 185 appearances at left back before forcing a move

Morocco coach Regragui steps down, Ouahbi appointed as replacement

Morocco coach Walid Regragui has quit the team just months before it competes at the World Cup, he confirmed at a late-night press conference. Regragui's departure - less than 100 days before the United States, Canada and Mexico host the World Cup from June 11 to July 19 - was widely reported before Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the country's soccer federation, accompanied Regragui for the press conference that doubled as a tribute to the departing coach. "The team needs a fresh face, a different energy, and a new perspective with a new coach," Regragui said on Thursday. "I think the team needs a new lease of life before the World Cup, a new vision to continue progressing. My decision to leave is part of this team's evolution." The 50-year-old Regragui led Morocco to the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup - a first for Africa and the Arab world - but he was criticized after the team failed to win the Africa Cup of Nations as the host country after a dramatic 1-0 loss to Senegal in t

Messi joins Trump at White House a year after turning down Biden's invite

Presidents have welcomed champions for decades to capitalise on the winning optics, but Messi's visit stands apart as he's long avoided presidential visits

FIFA eyes Iraq as replacement if Iran opts to withdraw from World Cup

Iran's place at the men's World Cup in three months' time was put in doubt Monday amid an escalating Middle East conflict sparked by the soccer tournament's co-host the United States. Iran is due to play its three group stage games in the U.S. - two in Inglewood, California, then in Seattle - from June 15-26. Cities in Canada and Mexico also will host some of the 104 games. The U.S. and Israel have targeted Iran in coordinated attacks since Saturday that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens more senior officials. It provoked an Iranian response that aimed missiles at U.S. allies including 2022 World Cup host Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which FIFA has picked to stage the 2034 edition. "What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope," said Iran's top soccer official Mehdi Taj, a vice president of the Asian Football Confederation. It is unclear if the state-backed Iranian soccer federation could refuse to sen

Real Madrid slip up, fail to close gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona

Real Madrid lost a second straight La Liga match when a stunning volley from Martin Satriano gave Getafe a shock 1-0 win at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Monday. The result prevented the capital club from cutting the four-point gap to leader Barcelona. Getafe had lost all eight of its previous league encounters with Real Madrid and early saves from goalkeeper David Soria kept it from falling behind. Soria turned over a shot from Arda Guler midway through the first half, not long after frustrating Vinicius Junior when he was through on goal. Madrid had more of the ball but lacked punch up front and it paid a price for its profligacy six minutes before halftime when Getafe took the lead. A hopeful cross from the right was headed clear but it fell to the feet of Satriano, who volleyed into the roof of the net from 20 meters out. It was the second goal in three games for the Uruguayan, who joined on loan from Lyon during the last transfer window. Madrid continued to dominate possessi

Serie A relegation race tightens after Fiorentina, Pisa drop points

Fiorentina went down to Udinese 3-0 and Pisa lost to Bologna 1-0 on an unhappy night for the relegation-threatened sides in Serie A. In Udine, the home side went ahead after 10 minutes when Christian Kabasele nodded in a Nicolo Zaniolo corner. Udinese's leading goal-scorer Kelman Davis made it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the second half. And Adam Buksa added a third in stoppage time to decisively halt Fiorentina's recent revival and torpedo its hopes of winning three games in a row for the first time this season. It remained fifth from bottom of the league, but equal on points with Cremonese and Lecce, the club occupying the third relegation spot. One of the two teams below it, Pisa, lost at home to Bologna and remained joint last with Verona. Pisa had three shots on target while Bologna had only one, but it was that 90th-minute strike from Jens Odgaard that decided the match. The Danish forward hit the net from around 25 meters out to break the home fans' hearts and ensure Pis

US midfielder Weston McKennie extends Juventus contract till 2030

United States midfielder Weston McKennie had his contract at Juventus extended on Monday so that he can spend a decade with the Turin club. The new deal expires in 2030 - 10 years after McKennie signed with Juventus. The extension was announced by Juventus and comes three months before a home World Cup for McKennie. It also comes with a reported salary increase from 2.5 million euros ($3 million) to 4 million euros ($4.7 million) per season, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport. The 27-year-old McKennie has 26 goals and provided 26 assists in 220 appearances for Juventus. He has also become a favorite of new Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti, who appreciates McKennie's versatility - even fielding him at striker recently. McKennie has eight goals since Spalletti was hired in October - more than any other player in the squad.